The Welcoming Ball-Saturday, March 28th, 8pm

[Blackguard]

Jane

Pedro had left the Archduchess in the care of the Austrian envoy and then went to find Jane so that he could escort her home. "Damned French," he uttered in Spanish as they walked. "At least I spilled my drink on that pig Ruvigny."

He led Jane to the carriage so they might go home together. A bit of lovemaking would get him in a better mood.

[Jane Mary Digby]

Jane and Pedro

Jane patted Pedro's arm "Mi Amore, at least De Chartres did not get anywhere either. Did you see the look on Rugviny's face when I stole away the Duke of Monmouth?" There was a soft chuckle "It was worth the boredom I suffered at the hands of princes tonight."

In the carriage, and later in their little hideaway, Jane allowed her Spanish lover to console himself with her body, whispering encouraging words in his ears urging him on so (there was always the chance after all that he would be so exhausted he would fall asleep before he continued on much longer).

OOC: Fin for me!

[Daniel van Nassau Breda]

Daniel & Rebecca

The Dutchman quirked an eyebrow. "Such debauchery? In the mind of that young man? Why, by the looks of it he still has to learn to wield a weapon of any kind..." Let alone his own he finished the sentence in his head.

"Ah, advice. You've came to the wrong person, dear, or maybe the right. Did you promise the young Lord to come alone? If not, I could come with you and have a friendly word or two with him, if that is what you wish?" he asked, apparently thinking he could do something in return for his savior.

[Rebecca Hale]

Daniel and Rebecca

Patting her escort's arm with gentle fingers, she smiled softly and shook her head. "I made no promises of any kind, but he expects me to come alone. In any case, I would not wish to subject him to the humiliation of being lectured."

Rebecca paused against the stone railing and sighed. "I only see three options. The first, I do not appear at all. Perhaps I will send a note apologizing, perhaps not. The second, I allow myself to be seen in someone's presence but do not approach. Let him know that I could not escape. The third, meet as he plans and have someone come looking for me after a minute or so that I might flee before he does anything I might regret." She tilted her head to one side, looking up at Daniel through the corner of her eye as she shrugged. "I'm debating between the first and the second. Can you see the sundial from here?"

[Daniel van Nassau Breda]

Daniel & Rebecca

Daniel wrapped his good arm around her back as she summed up her options, disregarding the fact she looked at him. Peering out into the garden, he indeed saw the sundial a ways into it. "Yes, I do. However, I can not give you advice in this, as it is a choice for you to make. I will be there for you, though, if you need me. Whether it is to help you in this problem, or if it is to listen to you and help you when something is wrong. I am in your debt after all." he offered her, knowing that he could not meddle in someone else's business.

Turning to look at her, he said, "Rebecca, whatever your choice is, I would never have lectured him. I could just comment him upon his dancing and then apologize for the fact that I would escort you home. It would deliver the message you want to send to him, without snide remarks or humiliating him."

[Rebecca Hale]

Daniel and Rebecca

Her eyes flitted downward towards the arm placed around her, but she made no motion to remove it and only blushed a little bit. Rebecca smiled gratefully up at the Captain, glad for his support and understanding in her silliness. "Thank you for that. It would have been so awful otherwise."

She considered for a moment, then continued. "All things considered, I'd rather not speak with him at all tonight. I'd feel so guilty for not being plainer in the first place, it's easier to just avoid the whole thing. Option Two, I think. A walk through the gardens on our way to the carriages, perhaps? Soft grass would be so much kinder to my poor feet then hard floors." There was a little chuckle in her voice as she rationalized taking the outdoors path.

[Daniel van Nassau Breda]

Daniel & Rebecca (exeunt)

"You're welcome." was all he said before silence fell as she considered the two options.

Upon making up her mind, he replied "There is no need to explain your choice to me. If it is your wish, Rebecca, it shall be so. Let us find our way into the gardens." With these words, the gingerhead turned away from the railing, ready to lead his escort onto the soft grass.

[Guest]

Sophia, Grace, Heather and Middlesex

It did not show her extraordinary politeness if her would-be escort refused to believe her and then call her on it. And, he was quite shockingly rude to the Lady Grace and her redhead companion.

Ignoring the lie she had participated in, she had focused on his errant behavior. A gentleman did not call a lady on her lie. If he did, he was bound to embarrass said lady. Sophia was highly embarrassed and humiliated, and his approach towards the ladies who had walked towards them, smelt of one being condescending towards his inferiors (of sex and rank). While she had tolerated him before, her feelings leaned towards dislike.

As a result, she decided to take the out offered to her by the ladies, and spoke in a demure manner, “Milord, you press me so. If I did not know the lady, why would I have accepted her offer?” She shook her head delicately. “Milord, I cannot break word which was given.” Given just now of course. She inched closer to the ladies.

[Blackguard]

Sophia, Grace, Heather and Middlesex

Rudeness was in the eye of the beholder. Some would say only that Heather had been accused merely of gamesmanship.

When Sophia asked him why she would accept, Middlesex fought a sigh. "As I said, you are extraordinarily polite." To ladies. As she proclaimed an unwillingness to break her word given, Middlesex released the sigh at last. "Sadly, it appears that you are prepared to do just that. But, I shall release you from it so that you can enjoy a walk to the carriages and then a walk back to Saint Marks." Alone.

"Thank you for a heavenly dance," he uttered politely as he gave her a small bow. He had become bored and was ready to move off to find more witty company.

[Hope]

Sophia, Grace, Heather and Middlesex

As soon as he had left Grace released a breath she'd not realised she'd been holding. "What a horrible man!" she hissed, not even caring to hide her lips behind her fan. "You poor poor thing to have fallen in with him, oh and he didn't want to let you go did he. Some people might think that a compliment, but they've not been wooed by the devil have they?" Gracie looked on after the departing man, wondering where he'd go now? He'd reproved Grace right in public, and been openly rude to the Countess, and it was plain as day he had dark intentions of Sofia... he was all quite exciting (if rather too old) a man really.

[Heather O`Roarke]

Sophia, Grace, Heather and Middlesex

It would be bad form to show triumph in her face, so The Countess carefully schooled her features, but her mischievously twinkling eyes nearly gave her away as she watched Middlesex' back as he beat a retreat. Ha!

"Come ducklings," Heather tutted as if she was 20 years their senior, "Lets find the comfort of my carriage shall we?" To both girls she brightly explained "It is a very fashionable open carriage with lovely red velvet cushions. We shall be the envy of court, shall we not? See and be seen. I think we deserve a little spin around the block before we truly retire. All this excitement. The evening breeze shall cool our minds and hearts. Then I will bring you both home of course." Before returning to the Kings apartment.

Looking at Gracie she asked softly "Do you want Lord Ogle to join us, or has he not been deserving of further attention this night? He looks like he might escape you."

Amused her green eyes then rested upon Lady Sophia, teasing "My, but how your ears must be ringing with all these outrageous lies in the air.. not to mention it was on rhyme too." Clearly she was referring to Middlesex, not herself.

OOC: Ogle escaped to meet with Rebecca I think. This thread is ready to wrap up so we can simply say we had a bit of girlish talk after this?

[Guest]

Miles and Karoline

Miles smiled inwardly. The princesses royal tendencies were only helping his cause. "Let us hurry then, your majesty." He continued on his trek towards the garden, continuing his charade, and making haste to his destination.

[Althea_Dawes]

Althea had a smile, a nod, and quietly voiced verbal assent to Georges' suggestion, her suspicions allayed by the retreat of flirtation behind a veil of courtly politeness that she was hardly prescient enough to penetrate. Accepting his arm as escort from the floor, she could only lament that the dance had been so short, for her eye had indeed not failed her, and she was certain, with the quiet confidence of the one who is skilled, and knows it, that they had presented an impressive pair.

Saying her farewells to Georges, and begging him pass along her goodnights to Tierney, with a final circuit of the emptying Hall she sought Robert. She had a hope that they might end what had been a thoroughly enjoyable evening together, she departing the ball upon his arm.

[Guest]

Gwen and Greg

Bowing in return to Gwen as the music came to it's conclusion, Greg's smile hadn't yet faded from his features. As she spoke, he leaned forward to inhale deeply and feigned a winded expression. The question made him nod and for the briefest of moment it looked as if the young libertine might jump into her arms. Laughing, he instead offered his own arm and moved them away from the quickly emptying floor. Although he'd originally feared the evening upon it's start, Greg felt more confident than ever that his time in London was not being wasted.

"I should be able to manage, although I have to admit it's a rather tempting offer." He added with a smile forming on the corner of his lips. "I must say I am likely too plump around the midsection for you to lift!" Laughing, Greg patted his ribs.

[Hope]

Sophia, Grace, Heather

"Yes, Ducklings!" Grace chimed in echo of the Countess as she linked her arm through Heather's, and sought Sophia's. "I do hope you have lots of lanterns to light us up... it would be a waste to be atrociously gorgeous and yet dimly lit." Upon a moment of utter genius (so she commended herself) Sophia signalled to a servant to bring wine too.

"Pfft! Henry schmenry...." she tutted in reply, though the brief pout on her lips revealed that she was just a little hurt at his abandonment. Still, any dismay at his negligence was turned from mind - as Grace fell to enjoying her new friends company. Both Sophia and Heather might notice Grace was rather mirror-like, and apt towards unconsciously mimicking.


OOC: Sounds brill

[Gwendolyn Llywelyn]

Gregory and Gwendolyn

"No!" Gwen shouted in mock concern when it seemed he might leap into her arms after all; and, giggling, she turned away as though to shield herself from an incoming libertine. Really, it was a good thing they got off the floor before they made altogether too much of a spectacle, everyone would become jealous of not having as much fun as the pair and begin to drone ceaselessly about their impropriety shortly after. Not that she would really care all that much. It'd just be another thing to add to the litany of complaints against her conduct of late.

Lord Derrick blamed her inability to carry him on roundness about the midsection. "Of course it would have nothing to do with your height," Gwendolyn laughed yet more. "Or perhaps I am simply just not plump enough," which she was not serious about, quite aware that her figure was 'just plump enough' in the opinion of many a member of the male species.

Having come off the dance floor, though, she supposed it was time to find George, whom she had barely glimpsed all evening. Considering....he might feel awkward should Lord Derrick accompany her. "But thank you for the dance, milord, though you quite nearly died of exhaustion," she began the process of bidding him a good evening. "I am afraid I must retreat before my sides are forced to take much more abuse," they were sore from laughing.

"Good night, Lord Derrick," Gwen offered her hand to the young man. "I hope we may speak again soon."

[Blackguard]

All

And so it was that the ballroom emptied. Miles was still intent on his mission with Karoline, but the other ball goers began to go home.

[Guest]

Gregory and Gwendolyn

Taking Gwen's hand with an easy charm, Greg kissed it dryly and bowed deeply at her departure. The evening had been entertaining and ended on a rather positive note in Greg's mind.

"Good night Mistress Gwendolyn, have an splendid evening." And with that he made his way leisurely towards the doors and made his exit.